Introduction to the Philosophy

of the Human Person – Philo 01

Robert III M. Alaras
Module 1 – Check This Out
Presentation Range
• Ed. Mandane, Orlando Alim M. and Ruby Suazo. Thinking Human
(Cebu City: University of San Carlos Press, 2016). Pp.
Check this Out! The Apology
Different Kinds of Knowledge
• What is ‘wisdom’ or ‘sophia’?
• There are four distinct forms in respect to knowledge:
• 1. Opinion – doxa
• 2. Scientific Knowledge – episteme
• 3. Technical Knowledge – techne
• 4. Wisdom - sophia
• Doxa
• Common understanding or common sense.
• Viewed as the lowest kind of knowledge since it lacks proper justification.
• Examples: rumors, speculation and gossip.
Check this Out! The Apology
• Episteme
• Scientific knowledge.
• A kind of knowledge grounded on “justified assertions.”
• Examples: “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius” “Flowers are organic systems.”
• The assertions and claims are justified through a method i.e. Scientific method.
• One comes to ‘scientific principles’ and the knowledge of governing their
operations.
Check this Out! The Apology
• Techne
• Knowledge of how to manufacture objects.
• A person who has the theoretical knowledge of how to manufacture goods, the
“means-end”, process does not need to know scientific properties of
manufactured goods.
• For example, a restaurant cook does not need to have detailed knowledge of
thermodynamics to be a cook or the molecular properties of his ingredients.
• The restaurant cook does not have ‘scientific’ knowledge of the subject,
however, this is not common knowledge since not everyone can cook food
like he does.
Check this Out! The Apology
• Besides the “means-end” theoretical knowledge, techne can be classified
as that knowledge inherent in the technical skill that manipulates the
objects to achieve the desired goal.
• From the previous example, the skill of the cook to cut, manipulate
heat, and maneuver the ingredients to create the dish besides the
theory behind cooking it.
Check this Out! The Apology
• Sophia
• Aristotle remarks that wisdom is “the highest of all knowledge because it is the
‘most finished of the forms of knowledge’”
• Knowledge of first principles.
• But why is it the highest or important of all the forms of knowledge?
• Two:
• 1. “[T]he knowledge and encounter of the Nothing.”
• 2. Knowledge that attends to itself as its own “object of thought” - i.e.
wisdom is ‘self-knowledge.’
Check this Out! The Apology
• To embark upon the wisdom, we recall that it wisdom is the knowledge
and encounter of the Nothing.
• There are two important moments written in Plato’s written work called
the “Apology.”
• “Apology”
• Depicts the trial and defense of Socrates.
• The charge against Socrates was two:
• 1. Impiety (Not being faithful to the Gods)
• 2. Corruption of the youth
Check this Out! The Apology
• He narrates the source of the charge coming from a report by one of his
friends by the name of Chaerephon.
• Chaerephon reported that when he had visited the Oracle of Delphi and asked her
if anyone was wiser than Socrates, she replied that no one was wiser than him.
• Baffled, Socrates began to wonder why, since he himself claimed he knew nothing.
• In response, Socrates began to wander around Athens, to disprove the Oracle.
Check this Out! The Apology
• However he disproved everyone who claimed “I am wise.”
• This honesty in dethroning them from their reputations led to the injury of their
pride.
• This was the reason that they plotted against Socrates and framed him as a threat
to Athens.
• After the presentation of his defense, the death penalty was proposed to punish
him for his crimes.
• He explains that no wrong was done and in fact his examinations of oneself and
others did much good.
• This good would even be proposed as a moment worth dying for.
Check this Out! The Apology
• Recalling the two moments in the dialogue
• 1. Socrates was surprised that he was the wisest.
• He is suprised because he claimed he knew he knew nothing.
• How can someone who knows nothing be wise?
• 2. “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
• One observes that self-examination is worth dying for and that a life that has
never tasted reflection is a worthless life.